Foods Make You Happy: Pump Your Serotonin Levels by Eating These Foods
Stressed spelled backwards is desserts, so maybe that’s the reason why for most of us, the first thing we do to spark up our mood is to stuff our mouths with our comfort foods, which are most of the time, salty and sweets.
The chemical responsible for boosting our mood and promoting healthy sleeping patterns is called ‘serotonin.’ I know you’ve encountered that word a million of time but it’s a good refresher to go skim back to the role of the chemical to our body.
So how does serotonin work to uplift your mood?
Serotonin can be found mostly in your brain, blood, intestines, and connective tissues. It acts as neurotransmitter that relays messages from your central nervous system to your peripheral nervous system. While the role of serotonin in our body is a complex one and further studies are needed to narrow down its function, scientists have linked high serotonin levels to positive mood, feeling good, healthy digestion and sleep, and also your desire for sex.
Serotonin is the product of an amino acid called tryptophan. And being an amino acid, it is not naturally-occurring in our body and therefore it needs to find its way to our system through the food that we eat.
So, if you’re feeling a bit down lately, scroll down through this list of foods that will help increase the serotonin levels in your body!
Eggs
The protein found in eggs can help spike up the ‘happy hormone’ in your body. You can look for various egg-citing recipes online to spice up your breakfast or you can stick to your typical (but yummy) fried and boiled eggs!
Cheese
We often say ‘Say Cheese’ when taking pictures to instantly put up a smile on our face. Interestingly, cheese is a great source of tryptophan — so it means that eating cheese will literally put a smile on your face! And I mean, who wouldn’t be happy if you smother your face with a spoonful of mac and cheese?
Pineapples
Aside from its anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and immune booster properties, pineapples are also rich in tryptophan to keep you happy throughout the day.
Now, won’t this be a great reason to put pineapples on your pizza?
Salmon
We all have been warned about consuming lots of fats and oils, but the only fatty acid worth consuming is omega-3 acid, which is abundant in salmon. Just by eating two portions of the fish per week will give you enough serotonin boost to keep you in a good mood until Saturday!
Spinach
Let’s head on the veggie world and let me introduce you to our good friend spinach. Just like the other foods in this list, spinach is also packed with tryptophan to boost that serotonin levels in your brain. Aside from the amino acid, spinach is also rich in iron which aids our body in the production of red blood cells.
Milk
The representative from the beverage department is our bedtime buddy milk. Low fat milk is the best option for people on a strict watch on their fat intake, or if you just want to avoid gaining weight in general.
Nuts
Nuts are my favorite ‘binge snacks’ during study or on a night of Netflix and chill. Aside from boosting your overall mood, nuts are also great sources of healthy fats and fiber. It is also a great diet food and can aid in cancer prevention just by snacking in a few per day. You can also add it in various salads and pastries for that upgraded snacking experience!
Poultry — especially Turkey
Over decades, turkey had become the symbol of Thanksgiving. And it also became a habit to take a good nap after a scrumptious thanksgiving meal, giving you that feeling of satisfaction and happiness during the holiday season — and the serotonin found in your turkey had contributed to that!
Lean poultry like chicken breast will also give you that essential ‘happiness boost.’
Soy products like tofu
Now, this is a personal favorite. I also like to include fried tofu in my binge snacks collection. What’s more is that tofu is a good alternative to meat — great news to our vegan and vegetarian folks out there!
Avoiding foods with low serotonin levels
Now, that we’ve identified the top foods that will put you in a good mood, it is also essential for you to know which foods will likely put you in the opposite.
Alcoholic beverages, for example, can decrease serotonin levels in your body. I just want to do a quick shout out to those who drink away their sorrows. Are you a fan of coffee like me? Well, here a bit of a bad news for us. Too much caffeine will also lower the amount of happy hormone in our body. And don’t forget the diet sodas!
While it is inevitable for us to consume such foods, there are alternative options available like green tea and prebiotic drinks to ensure that the serotonin in our body is optimal — or at least balanced.
Foods aren’t the only thing that can boost serotonin
Sure, eating may be our way to somehow escape loneliness but we shouldn’t rely on eating alone. Basking under the sunlight (in the recommended hours of course!) can also help boost your happy hormones. Exercise is also a great way to increase serotonin production in the body. But best overall, is that we practice to keep a happy mindset. Surround yourself with people that are good for your mental health. Practice meditation so that you’ll have better control over your bursts of emotion.
By knowing which foods are essential for your overall well-being, you can now make healthier (and positive) food choices. The results may not be noticeable at start, but you’ll gradually feel and notice improvements with the way you feel.
But, during those sad, melancholic days, it won’t hurt to dive into your favorite tub of ice cream, chips, and soda while watching your favorite Netflix series.
Now, can you please hand over that bag of chips?
Read more:
Smart Ways to Improve Productivity at Work
